Mountcastle king of Carrus Open

New Zealand Stroke Play champion Kerry Mountcastle has won his second major title this season to claim the Carrus Open by one-shot.

Jennian Homes Charles Tour today while Brittney Dryland won by a dominant five-shots in the women’s field on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour in the weekend.

In a roller-coaster final round, it took till the 72nd hole before the amateur had the outright lead at a total of 16-under par with rounds of 65, 67, 64 and 68 at the Tauranga Golf Club.

The bookies naturally had three-time defending champion Mark Brown as their favourite entering the final day, but it was Mountcastle who held his nerve with three textbook pars to finish, in front of hundreds of passionate fans who continue to provide the biggest crowds of the season.

“It’s a great feeling and great experience to win on this tour, especially one that is named after Sir Bob Charles,” says a proud Mountcastle.

A highlight of his round came very early with a chip-in eagle on the second hole, but the only part which may have not gone to plan was leaving himself a slippery three-foot putt on the last hole to seal the deal.

“The three-footer to win wasn’t the putt I wanted to leave myself, but it was very nice to see that go in and take the win.”

If he had let this one slip by, tournament officials were preparing for a mammoth four-way playoff, but the new champion found the centre of the cup with a silky-smooth stroke to join an elite group of amateur golfers to win on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour.

“The other amateurs that have won these events are achieving great things at the moment, so to join them is really nice,” says Mountcastle.

Things started to really heat up down the stretch with Dongwoo Kang shooting a sublime round of six-under (64) to join the frenzy which also included Lachie McDonald and Mark Brown.

As the lead chopped and changed throughout the afternoon, Kang and McDonald will only remember their final hole bogeys which sadly cost them a chance of a playoff while the local hope Mark Brown didn’t fire a shot with his even-par round.

Finishing earlier in the day, Hawke’s Bay professional Daniel Pearce has won the season long points race to the Jennian Homes Trophy today after another great season on the national circuit.

His year will be remembered by the two big wins at the Barfoot & Thompson Akarana Open and the Ngamotu Classic which solidified his position as our most best golfer of the summer.

Brittney Dryland has secured a wire-to-wire victory at the Carrus Open to win by a convincing five-shots to claim her second title on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour.

With a round of two-under par (70), which was her fourth consecutive round under-par, the Aucklander shot out to a lead that made it near impossible for anyone to chase.

Her last victory on the national circuit was at the Akarana Open two years ago, so she is starting to know and enjoy the feeling of being at the top.

“It feels pretty amazing to play solid the whole week and to have four rounds sub-par makes me very happy,” says Dryland.

“It’s been a really busy start to the year with a few overseas trips and I think all of it has helped me get better every week and I’m really happy with where my game’s at.”

Dryland will now set her sights to the Queen Sirikit cup in two weeks’ time as she looks to take this form and attempt to bring some more silverware home, not just for herself, but New Zealand as well.

Miree Jung was the next best at five-under par followed by Carmen Lim at four-under showing the depth of young women golfers coming through the ranks.